“The Double Portion of Anointing” - 2 Kings 2:5-11
“One of the great tragedies of American culture is the way billions of dollars are invested to persuade people my age to waste the rest of their lives. It goes by the name of retirement, and the entire message is: you’ve worked for it, now enjoy it. And what is the “it”? Twenty years of play and leisure. While the world sinks under the weight of millions of healthy older people fishing, cruising, puttering, playing golf, bridge, bingo, shuffle board, and collecting shells. All of this in preparation for meeting Jesus Christ face to face with nail scars in his hands.” (John Piper, Don’t’ waste your life)
1. Those who desire the power of the Holy Spirit
“Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” (v.9)
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” (1 John 2:20)
“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this day.” (Acts 6:3)
2. Those who are willing to go to the end.
“So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and case his cloak upon him.” (1 Kings 19:19)
“The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?’ And he answered, ‘Yes, I know it; keep quiet.’” (v.5)
“I will not leave you.” (v.2, 4, 6)
“And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (v.11)
“Then Elijah prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (1 Kings 6:17)
3. Those who are willing to pay the price.
“Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan” (v.6a)
“There are no victories at bargain prices.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
